Configuring a sealed enclosure for a laser printhead

ABSTRACT

A label modification system is disclosed herein. The label modification system may determine a physical configuration of a rewriteable label. The label modification system may select a laser containment structure that is associated with the physical configuration. The laser containment structure may be one of a plurality of laser containment structures that are accessible to a placement device. The label modification system may cause the placement device to position the laser containment structure in association with the rewriteable label to form a sealed enclosure that includes a laser printhead. The label modification system may perform, based on a seal status associated with the laser containment structure and the rewriteable label, an action associated with the rewriteable label.

BACKGROUND

Laser printing involves the production of text and graphics by passing alight beam over a material, such as a rewriteable label. A laserprinthead can be configured to write or erase content from the materialbased on photothermal properties of the material. The laser printheadmay be configured to emit the light beam at a certain power level, witha certain a spot size, and/or the like. The light beams, during a writeoperation and/or erase operation, can cause a temperature of thematerial to reach and/or exceed 100 degreesCelsius(C°). Accordingly,using a laser can inadvertently cause damage to materials if the lightbeam is not contained within a structure. Furthermore, irradiation fromthe light beams can be harmful in certain situations. Therefore, thereis a need to provide systems, devices, and/or methods to contain thelight beam within a structure when performing a write operation and/orerase operation to avoid inadvertent exposure to certain objects,materials, and/or humans.

SUMMARY

According to some implementations, a method may include determining aphysical configuration of a rewriteable label, wherein content can bemodified on the rewriteable label using a laser printhead, and whereinthe rewriteable label is supported by a label support fitting; selectinga laser containment structure that is associated with the physicalconfiguration, wherein the laser containment structure is one of aplurality of laser containment structures that are accessible to aplacement device; causing the placement device to position the lasercontainment structure to form a sealed enclosure that includes therewriteable label and the laser printhead; obtaining, from a sensorassociated with the sealed enclosure, seal information associated withcoupling the laser containment structure and a label support fitting ofthe rewriteable label; determining, based on the seal information, acoupling status associated with the laser containment structure and thelabel support fitting; and performing, based on the coupling status, anaction associated with the rewriteable label.

According to some implementations, a label modification system mayinclude a placement device; a laser printhead assembly that includes alaser printhead; and a controller configured to: determine a physicalconfiguration of a rewriteable label, wherein content can be modified onthe rewriteable label using the laser printhead; select a lasercontainment structure that is associated with the physicalconfiguration, wherein the laser containment structure is one of aplurality of laser containment structures that are accessible to aplacement device; cause the placement device to position the lasercontainment structure in association with a label support fitting of therewriteable label; verify that a sealed enclosure, that includes therewriteable label and the laser printhead, is formed by the containmentstructure and the label support fitting; and perform an actionassociated with the laser printhead modifying content on the rewriteablelabel.

According to some implementations, a device may include a memory and aprocessor, communicatively coupled to the memory, configured to:determine a physical configuration of a rewriteable label, whereincontent modifiable on the rewriteable label using a laser printhead;select a laser containment structure that is associated with thephysical configuration, wherein the laser containment structure is oneof a plurality of laser containment structures that are accessible to aplacement device; cause the placement device to position the lasercontainment structure in association with the rewriteable label to forma sealed enclosure that includes the laser printhead; and perform, basedon a seal status associated with the laser containment structure and therewriteable label, an action associated with the rewriteable label.

According to some implementations, a laser printhead assembly for alaser printhead may include a laser containment door; and a lasercontainment housing that is configured to form a sealed enclosure with alabel support of a rewriteable label, wherein the sealed enclosure isconfigured to include the rewriteable label and the laser printhead,wherein the laser containment door, in a laser-enabled position, isconfigured to permit the laser printhead, via a light beam, to modifythe rewriteable label, and wherein the laser containment door, in alaser-disabled position, is configured to prevent a light beam fromescaping the laser containment housing.

According to some implementations, a label modification unit may includea laser printhead assembly that is configured to modify, via a lightbeam, a rewriteable label that is mounted to a label support; and alaser containment housing that includes a label-side end that includesan opening, wherein the opening is configured to match a label supportfitting of the label support; a laser-side end that is opposite thelabel-side end, wherein the laser printhead assembly is positioned atthe laser-side end; and a laser containment door that is between thelaser-side end and the label-side end, wherein, based on whether asealed enclosure is formed between the laser containment housing and alabel support fitting of the rewriteable label, the laser containmentdoor is configured to: enable the light beam to pass through the openingto modify the rewriteable label when a sealed enclosure is formed, orprevent the light beam from escaping the laser containment housing whena sealed enclosure is not formed.

According to some implementations, a label modification system mayinclude a placement device and a label modification unit, movable by theplacement device, that includes a laser printhead assembly; a lasercontainment structure that includes an opening at a label-side end ofthe label modification unit, wherein the opening is configured to bealigned, by the placement device, with a label support fittingassociated with a rewriteable label; and a laser containment door thatis between the laser containment structure and the laser printheadassembly, wherein the laser containment door is configured to maintain alaser printhead of the laser printhead assembly within a sealedenclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateimplementations of concepts disclosed herein and explain variousprinciples and advantages of those implementations.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example implementation of a label modificationunit described herein

FIG. 2 illustrates an example implementation associated with one or morelaser containment structures of the label modification unit of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate one or more example implementations associatedwith using and/or controlling a label modification unit describedherein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example environment in which systems and/ormethods described herein may be implemented.

FIG. 5 illustrates example components of one or more devices of FIG. 4

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of an example process for configuring asealed enclosure for a laser printhead.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of implementations described herein.

The apparatus and method elements have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the implementationsdescribed herein so as not to obscure the disclosure with details thatwill be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

A laser printhead of a laser printer can be configured to write or erasecontent when used in combination with rewriteable media, such as arewriteable label. According to certain standards and/or configurations,the laser printhead is configured to be contained within an enclosure(e.g., a housing of the laser printer) to prevent the light beam frominadvertently reaching areas of an environment of the rewriteable label(e.g., to prevent the light beam from overheating certain objects withinthe environment). In some cases, such laser printers are configured tobe stationary and/or within fixed positions. However, in some cases, alaser printhead may be utilized within a mobile and/or navigable device(e.g., an autonomously controlled device) that is configured to modifyone or more rewriteable labels within the environment.

Some implementations described herein provide a label modification unitthat includes one or more components and/or structures that areconfigured to maintain a laser printhead within a sealed enclosure whenwriting content to or erasing content from a rewriteable label. Asdescribed herein, the label modification unit may be configured to forman enclosure with the rewriteable label and/or a support of therewriteable label. Additionally, or alternatively, the labelmodification unit may include a laser containment system to maintain thelaser printhead within an enclosure when the label modification unit isbeing moved between rewriteable labels. Moreover, the label modificationsystem may include an array of different laser containment structures topermit a single laser printhead assembly to form a sealed enclosure witha plurality of rewriteable labels that have different physicalconfigurations.

In this way, the label modification system described here can ensurethat a portable label modification unit abides by standards associatedwith preventing the light beam from inadvertently escaping an enclosureof the label modification unit (e.g., an enclosure formed from ahousing, a laser containment structure, and/or a rewriteable label)and/or reaching an environment surrounding the label modification unit(and correspondingly preventing damage to objects in the environment).Moreover, the label modification system may permit a variety ofdifferent rewriteable labels, to be modified by a same labelmodification unit, thus enhancing efficiencies associated with the labelmodification system (e.g., by preventing a need to reroute formaintenance or replacement of a printhead that does not fit a particularrewriteable label, by reducing a quantity of printheads and/or labelmodification systems required to adjust different rewriteable labelswithin an environment, and/or the like).

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example implementation of a label modificationunit 100 described herein. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the labelmodification unit 100 includes a laser printhead assembly 102 thatincludes a housing 103 that supports a laser printhead 104 with a laser106 and a reflector 108.

The label modification unit 100 includes a laser containment structure118 that includes a flexible seal element 120 that is configured inassociation with an opening (e.g., positioned or situated on at least aportion of an edge of the opening) of the laser containment structure118. The laser containment structure 118 may be referred to herein asbeing situated toward a “label-side end” of the label modification unit100 and the laser printhead may be referred to herein as being situatedtoward a “laser-side end” of the label modification unit 100. Thelaser-side end of the label modification unit 100 may be opposite thelabel-side end. Additionally, or alternatively, the label-side end mayinclude an opening in the housing 103 while the laser-side end may notinclude an opening in the housing 103. The opening may be associatedwith a light beam passageway that extends from a laser of the laserprinthead assembly, through the laser containment structure 118, and tothe opening and/or the rewriteable label. In some implementations, thelaser containment structure 118 and/or flexible seal element 120 may beformed as part of the housing 103 (e.g., as a single component). In sucha case, a combination of the laser containment structure 118 and thehousing 103 may be referred to herein as a “laser containment housing.”

According to some implementations described herein, the labelmodification unit 100 is configured to form a sealed enclosure with arewriteable label 124 and/or a label support 126 that includes a labelsupport fitting 128. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printhead assembly102 includes components (e.g., the laser printhead 104, the enclosuresensor 110, the door 114, the door sensor 116, and/or the like) togenerate and control a light beam to modify the rewriteable label 124.

The laser printhead 104 includes various components to produce and/orcontrol a light beam. For example, the laser 106 of the laser printhead104 may include a light emitter (e.g., a laser to produce a light beam)and one or more optical elements (e.g., a collimeter, a lens, and/or thelike to control a spot size of a light beam). Using these components,the laser 106 may emit a light beam (e.g., that is focused into a laserbeam) at a particular power level to write or erase content from therewriteable label 124. Furthermore, the reflector 108 of the laserprinthead 104 includes a material made of a reflective material toredirect a light beam. For example, the reflector 108 may include one ormore mirrors (e.g., one or more galvanic mirrors) configured to reflecta light beam at a particular angle or toward a particular direction. Insome implementations, the reflector 108 may be able to move, such thatthe reflector 108 may be used to dynamically redirect the light beamemitted by the laser 106. The dynamic nature of the reflector 108 mayassist directing the light beam along a particular path to write and/orerase content on the rewriteable label 124. The movement of thereflector 108 may allow the reflector 108 to manipulate the light beamin place of other components (e.g., the laser 106), which may beheavier, more difficult to move, use more resources for movement, and/orthe like.

The enclosure sensor 110 includes one or more sensor devices that may beused to detect whether a sealed enclosure associated with the labelmodification unit 100 and/or the rewriteable label 124 has been formed.The enclosure sensor 110 may include, for example, a light sensor (e.g.,a photo diode, a photoresistor, a photovoltaic light sensor, and/or thelike), a camera (e.g., a digital color camera, a greyscale camera, aninfrared camera, an ultraviolet camera, and/or the like), a pressuresensor (e.g., a sealed pressure sensor, a vacuum pressure sensor, agauge pressure sensor, and/or the like), and/or the like. As describedherein, the enclosure sensor 110 may be used to determine a seal statusthat indicates whether a seal has been formed or a gap exists betweentwo or more components of FIG. 1 to form the sealed enclosure. Morespecifically, the enclosure sensor 110 may provide informationidentifying whether a seal has been formed between the laser containmentstructure 118 and the rewriteable label 124, whether a seal has beenformed between the laser containment structure 118 and the label support126, whether a seal has formed between the door 114 and the housing 103,and/or the like.

The door sensor 116 includes one or more sensor devices that may be usedfor aligning the label modification unit 100 with the rewriteable label124 to facilitate formation of a sealed enclosure between the lasercontainment structure 118 and the rewriteable label 124. For example,the door sensor 116 may include a camera (e.g., a digital color camera,a greyscale camera, an infrared camera, an ultraviolet camera, and/orthe like), a scanner (e.g., an optical scanner, a barcode scanner,and/or the like), a ranging sensor (e.g., a light detection and rangingsensor (LIDAR), a radio detection and ranging sensor (radar), and/or thelike), and/or the like. In some implementations, the door sensor 116 maybe used to detect and/or scan a code (e.g., a linear barcode, a matrixbarcode, a 3D barcode, and/or the like) that indicates information abouta rewriteable label, such as a size of the rewriteable label, a shape ofthe rewriteable label, a dimension of the rewriteable label, a locationof the rewriteable label, a containment structure associated with therewriteable label, and/or the like. In some implementations, the doorsensor 116 may be used by a placement device, as described herein, toalign the label modification unit 100 with the rewriteable label 124 topermit the label modification unit 100 to modify the rewriteable label124.

The door 114 is used to help enclose the laser printhead 104 within anenclosure (e.g., to prevent a light beam from inadvertently leaving asealed enclosure formed by the housing 103 and the door 114). The door114 may be configured to move between a closed position (to close alight beam passageway of the light beam) and an open position (to openthe light beam passageway). As described herein, the door 114 may beoperated and/or controlled in a similar manner as an airlock. Forexample, the door 114 may be configured to only be open (e.g., for labelmodification) when a sealed enclosure is formed with the rewriteablelabel 124 and/or label support 126. In an open position, the door 114may be in a laser-enabled position that permits the light beam to passthrough the laser containment structure 118. In a closed position (shownin FIG. 1), the door 114 may be in a laser-disabled position thatprevents the light beam from passing through the laser containmentstructure 118.

In FIG. 1, the door 114 is a hinged door that is hinged at an internalsurface or side of the housing 103 and is configured to swing toward thelaser printhead 104). However, other examples are possible. For example,the door 114 may be configured to swing toward the label-side end of thehousing 103 and/or be hinged on a support within the housing 103.Additionally, or alternatively, the door 114 may be a sliding door thatcan be slidably removed from the light beam passageway (e.g., to openthe light beam passageway) or slidably placed within the light beampassageway (e.g., to close the light beam passageway). Additionally, oralternatively, the door 114 may be of various sizes and may notencompass the entire length of the laser printhead assembly 102.

The laser containment structure 118 includes a device that has twoopenings, where a first opening (e.g., that is toward the laserprinthead assembly 102) is configured to fit onto a first device (e.g.,laser printhead assembly 102), and a second opening (e.g., that istoward the rewriteable label 124) is configured to fit and/or seal ontoa second device (e.g., the rewriteable label 124). The openings arealigned with a light passageway of the light beam to permit the lightbeam to pass through the laser containment structure 118. The lasercontainment structure 118 may be formed of a material (e.g., a similarmaterial as the housing 103) that is configured to withstand the lightbeam, such that while the light beam may pass through the one or moreopenings, the light beam is unable to pass through walls of the lasercontainment structure 118. The laser containment structure 118 may befit with a flexible seal element 120 to allow a seal to be formed withthe second opening. The flexible seal element 120 may include a gasket,an O-ring, rubber, and/or another material that allows a seal to beformed between the laser containment structure 118 and another objectabutting the laser containment structure 118.

The rewriteable label 124 may include a photothermal material of a firstcolor, which upon a change in temperature, results in a change to adifferent, second color. In some implementations, other temperatureapplications (e.g., heating, cooling, and/or the like) may result in thephotothermal material changing color, such as reverting from the secondcolor to the first color, changing from the second color to a thirdcolor, and/or the like. This may allow the light beam of the laser 106to monochromatically modify particular areas and/or patterns of therewriteable label 124.

The label support 126 may include a rigid structure that supports therewriteable label 124. The label support 126 may be configured towithstand an amount of pressure from the label modification unit 100that permits a sealed enclosure to be formed between the lasercontainment structure 118 and the rewriteable label 124 and/or the labelsupport 126. In some implementations, the label support 126 may includea label support fitting 128 that is configured around a perimeter of therewriteable label 124. As shown in FIG. 1, the label support fitting 128may be a recess in the label support 126, though the label supportfitting 128 may include a protrusion and/or other mechanicalconfiguration that facilitates forming a sealed enclosure with the lasercontainment structure 118, as described herein. The label support 126may be used to hold the rewriteable label 124, such as on a shelf,and/or the like to create a structure for which the rewriteable labelcan reside without damaging the rewriteable label 124 (e.g., during amodification of the rewriteable label 124).

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser containment structure 118 may include oneor more latches 122 (e.g., clips, clamps, and/or the like) that permit,when in a latched position, the laser containment structure 118 tofasten to (e.g., attach to, connect to, lock onto, and/or the like) thelabel support 126 to form a sealed enclosure. Such a latch mechanism maybe mechanically coupled or controllably coupled with the door 114 topermit the door 114 to open or close based on whether or not the latchmechanism is engaged. For example, when latched, the door 114 may bepermitted (e.g., via a mechanical and/or electrically controlled device)to open and/or close, and, when unlatched, the door 114 may be locked(e.g., via a mechanical and/or electrically controlled device) in aclosed position. In some implementations, a coupling status associatedwith the laser containment structure 118 and the rewriteable label 124can be determined based on a position of the latch 122. In this way, thelatches 122 are prevented from breaking (e.g., cannot be unlatched) thesealed enclosure unless the door is in a closed position to maintain thelaser printhead 104 within a sealed enclosure (e.g., which may then beformed by the housing 103 and the door 114).

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printhead assembly 102 may be joined withthe laser containment structure 118 and the rewriteable label 124 tomodify the rewriteable label 124. When joined, the label modificationunit 100 may use the laser printhead 104 to emit and control the lightbeam to modify the rewriteable label 124.

In some implementations, the label modification unit 100 may becontrolled to modify the rewriteable label 124 based on detecting that asealed enclosure is formed by a seal being formed between the lasercontainment structure 118 and the rewriteable label 124. As describedherein, the seal may prevent the light beam from inadvertently escapingthe housing 103 and/or laser containment structure 118 and reaching anenvironment that surrounds the label modification unit 100, which maydamage the surroundings, damage the laser printhead assembly 102, causeinefficiencies in modifying the rewriteable label 124, and/or the like.To ensure the seal is formed, the laser printhead assembly 102 may usethe enclosure sensor 110 and/or door sensor 116 to obtain informationabout the positioning of the label modification unit 100 relative to therewriteable label 124 to properly align the label modification unit 100with the rewriteable label 124. For example, the door sensor 116 maydetermine whether the label-side opening of the laser containmentstructure 118 is fit to or within the label support fitting 128, whetherthe flexible seal element 120 is entirely against the rewriteable label124 and/or label support 126, whether the latches 122 are latched,and/or the like.

Based on aligning the laser printhead assembly 102, the lasercontainment structure 118, and the rewriteable label 124, the laserprinthead assembly 102 and/or the laser containment structure 118 may beabutted with the rewriteable label 124 such that a seal is attemptedbetween the laser containment structure 118 and the rewriteable label124. In some implementations, the rewriteable label 124 is placed withinthe label support 126 via the label support fitting 128, and the sealmay be formed using the rewriteable label 124, the label support 126,and/or the label support fitting 128 (instead of just the rewriteablelabel 124). Thus, even though the description herein describes the sealbeing formed using the rewriteable label 124, the description equallyapplies to the seal being formed using the label support 126 and/or thelabel support fitting 128. The flexible seal element 120 of the lasercontainment structure 118 may be used to assist in forming a sealbetween the laser containment structure 118 and the rewriteable label124, the label support 126, and/or the label support fitting 128 byenabling some flexion and/or variability with respect to aligning thelabel modification unit 100 with the rewriteable label 124, whilepermitting a sealed enclosure to be formed between the labelmodification unit 100 and the rewriteable label 124.

The number and arrangement of devices and components shown in FIG. 1 areprovided as one or more examples. In practice, there may be additionaldevices and/or components, fewer devices and/or components, differentdevices and/or components, or differently arranged devices and/orcomponents than those shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, two or more devicesor components shown in FIG. 1 may be implemented within a single deviceor component, or a single device or component shown in FIG. 1 may beimplemented as multiple, distributed devices or components.Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices or components shown inFIG. 1 may perform one or more functions described as being performed byanother set of devices or components shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example implementation 200 associated with oneor more laser containment structures of the label modification unit 100of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the laser printhead assembly 202 (e.g.,corresponding to the laser printhead assembly 102 of FIG. 1) may beattached to one or more laser containment structures 118-1 to 118-N(referred to individually as laser containment structure 118 andcollectively as the laser containment structures 118).

The laser containment structures 118 may be included and/or storedwithin a laser containment structure array 210 that is accessible to aplacement device associated with the label modification unit 100 (e.g.,an example of a placement device is described in relation to FIGS.3A-3D). The laser containment structures 118 may have various sizes,shapes, and/or the like that correspond to particular types ofrewriteable labels (e.g., rewriteable label 124) that have correspondingsizes, shapes, and/or the like. One of the laser containment structures118-1 may be interchangeable with the other laser containment structures118-2 to 118-N. Accordingly, the laser containment structure 118-1 maybe used on a corresponding rewriteable label of matching size, shape,and/or the like to 118-2 to permit a seal to be formed between the lasercontainment structure 118-1 and the rewriteable label, while the lasercontainment structure 118-2 may be used on a differently shaped and/orsized rewriteable label. One or more of the laser containment structures118 may be selected, from a plurality of laser containments structures118, based on information about a rewriteable label, as describedherein.

In this way, the laser containment structures 118, of the lasercontainment structure array 210, may be interchangeable lasercontainment structures that permit a sealed enclosure to be formedbetween the laser printhead assembly 202 and a rewriteable label (and/orlabel support of the rewriteable label). Correspondingly, the lasercontainment structures 118 can be configured to individually form sealedenclosures between a plurality of different rewriteable labels and thehousing 103 of the laser printhead assembly 102.

As indicated above, FIG. 2 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples may differ from what is described with regard to FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams of an example implementation 300 associatedwith using and/or controlling a label modification unit describedherein. Example implementation 300 includes a label modification system,a label management platform, and rewriteable labels (shown as “upperlabel” and “lower label”) positioned within an environment (e.g., onshelves of the environment). The environment may be associated with anentity (e.g., an individual or organization) that stores, manages,rents, and/or sells goods or products that are to be identified by therewriteable labels (e.g., according to information received from thelabel management platform). The upper label of example implementation300 is shown in an operable and/or working condition (e.g., shown by avertically aligned, unbent support), and the lower label is shown in adamaged and/or inoperable condition (e.g., due to a bent support).

As shown, the label modification system includes a label modificationunit (e.g., the label modification unit 100 of FIG. 1), a lasercontainment structure array (e.g., the laser containment structure array210 of FIG. 2), a placement device, and a controller. The controller mayinclude one or more devices (e.g., memories, processors, and/or thelike) that are configured to control the placement device and/or labelmodification unit in association with modifying the rewriteable labels.The placement device includes one or more components to move one or moredevices of the label modification system. For example, the placementdevice may include one or more mechanical arms, one or more actuators,one or more drives, one or more motors, and/or the like. The placementdevice is attached to a laser printhead assembly (shown as beingattached at a distal end of the placement device) of the labelmodification unit.

As described herein, the label modification system may be used to modify(e.g., autonomously and/or semi-autonomously) rewriteable labels in asetting with a plurality of rewriteable labels (e.g., labels ofdifferent sizes, shapes, types, and/or the like), such as in a retailstore, a warehouse, and/or the like. For example, the controller, basedon information and/or instructions from the label management platform,may control the label modification system to modify the rewriteablelabels, as described herein. While certain actions and/or operations aredescribed in connection with example implementation 300 as beingperformed by the controller, such actions and/or operations may besimilarly performed and/or caused to be performed by the labelmanagement platform.

As shown in FIG. 3A, and by reference number 310, the label modificationsystem moves into a position to use the label modification unit tomodify the rewriteable labels. For example, the controller may controlone or more devices (e.g., sensors, drives, motors, and/or the like) ofthe label modification system to navigate the label modification systemto the rewriteable labels and/or position the placement device inassociation with the rewriteable labels. According to someimplementations, the label modification system may move into positionbased on position information (e.g., aisle, shelf, and/or bininformation) and/or instructions from the label management platform. Forexample, the label management platform may provide label information tothe label modification system. The label information may include and/oridentify one or more of content that is modifiable and/or to be includedon the rewriteable labels, identifiers of the rewriteable labels,locations of the rewriteable labels, and/or the like. Accordingly, basedon processing the label information and/or identifying an aisle, shelf,and/or bin location of the label, the controller may maneuver the labelmodification system into a position that permits the placement deviceand/or the label modification unit to access and modify the upper labeland/or the lower label.

In this way, the label modification system may be navigated to therewriteable labels to permit the label modification system to select alaser containment structure for use in modifying the rewriteable labels,as described herein.

As further shown in FIG. 3A, and by reference number 320, the labelmodification system selects a laser containment structure to form anenclosure with the upper label. For example, the controller maydetermine a particular laser containment structure that matches and/oris configured to match the upper label (which may be different from asecond laser containment associated with the lower label). The selectedlaser containment structure may be one of a plurality of lasercontainment structures stored and/or maintained within the lasercontainment structure array. As described herein, the containmentstructure array may hold a variety of laser containment structures(e.g., containment structures of different sizes, shapes,configurations, and/or the like) that are configured to form a sealedenclosure between the laser printhead assembly and the rewriteablelabels.

In some implementations, the controller may select the laser containmentstructure based on an analysis of the upper label. For example, usinginformation from one or more sensors of the label modification system(e.g., the enclosure sensor 110, the door sensor, and/or the like), thecontroller may be configured to identify (e.g., using an imageprocessing technique) the rewriteable labels and/or a physicalconfiguration (e.g., size and/or shape) of the rewriteable labels. Morespecifically, an image sensor (such as the door sensor 116 described inrelation to FIG. 1) may capture and provide an image that depicts theupper label to controller. The controller may analyze the image (e.g.,using an edge detection technique, an object detection technique, anobject recognition technique, and/or the like) to determine the physicalconfiguration based on determined dimensions of the upper label from theimage. Based on the physical configuration, the controller may selectthe laser containment structure that matches and/or corresponds to thephysical configuration.

Additionally, or alternatively, the controller may analyze a tag and/oridentifier associated with the rewriteable labels. The tag and/oridentifier of a rewriteable label may be mapped to information that isassociated with and/or identifies a particular laser containmentstructure for the rewriteable label. For example, a sensor of the labelmodification system (e.g., the door sensor 116, and/or the like) may beused to scan a code (e.g., a matrix barcode, a linear barcode, a textcode, and/or the like) that indicates a particular laser containmentstructure to be used to modify the upper label.

Using an analysis of the rewriteable labels, as described herein, thecontroller and/or label management system can be configured todynamically identify and/or determine a laser containment structure fora particular rewriteable label without having to update and/or maintaina mapping of label information for the rewriteable labels in theenvironment.

In some implementations, the label modification system may send (e.g.,via a communication device, a communication link, a network, and/or thelike) captured label information to the label management platform todetermine which laser containment structure corresponds to the upperlabel. The label management platform may include a data structure or beable to access a data structure that contains various informationassociated with the rewriteable labels. For example, the labelmanagement platform may have information associated with rewriteablelabels in a particular environment, along with various informationassociated with the rewriteable labels, such as information identifying:a size of a rewriteable label, a location of a rewriteable label (e.g.,information identifying an aisle location, a shelf location, a binlocation, and/or the like), an item associated with a rewriteable label(e.g., a product the rewriteable label is associated with, and/or thelike), a laser containment structure associated with a rewriteablelabel, a price associated with a rewriteable label, content associatedwith a rewriteable label, and/or the like.

Additionally, or alternatively, the controller may select the lasercontainment structure based on receiving information from the labelmanagement platform that identifies a particular containment structurefor the upper label and/or based on the location of the upper label(e.g., the location may be mapped to a particular laser containmentstructure in a label location mapping or other data structure of thelabel modification system). In this way, the controller may conservecomputing resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources,and/or communication resources used to analyze sensor information and/orimages associated with the rewriteable labels) associated with selectingthe laser containment structure by using a static mapping and/orinformation.

In association with identifying a laser containment structure for theupper label, the controller may control the placement device to attachthe selected laser containment structure to the laser printheadassembly. For example, the controller may control the placement deviceto fit the laser containment structure to the laser printhead assembly(e.g., via a coupling and/or fitting of the laser printhead assemblyand/or the laser containment structure). In some implementations, theplacement device may remove a laser containment structure that isattached to the laser printhead assembly (e.g., by returning that lasercontainment structure to the laser containment structure array) from thelaser printhead assembly prior to attaching the selected lasercontainment structure to the laser printhead assembly.

As shown in FIG. 3B, and by reference number 330, the placement deviceabuts the laser containment structure to the upper label. For example,the controller, using information from one or more sensors of the labelmodification system and/or the label management platform, may controlthe placement device to position the label-side opening of the lasercontainment structure against and/or around the upper label. As a morespecific example, the controller may use a sensor (e.g., the door sensor116) to identify the upper label, determine a position of the upperlabel relative to the label modification unit and/or the label-sideopening of the laser containment structure, and correspondingly alignthe laser containment structure with the upper label. Additionally, oralternatively, the controller may use location information associatedwith the upper label and corresponding position information of theplacement device (e.g., that identifies preconfigured position settingsof mechanical components of the placement device to abut the lasercontainment structure to the upper label) to position the placementdevice to form a sealed enclosure between the laser containmentstructure and the upper label.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the upper label is affixed to the shelf via a labelsupport (e.g., the label support 126 of FIG. 1) that includes a labelsupport fitting (e.g., the label support fitting 128 of FIG. 1). Thecontroller may cause the placement device to press the laser containmentstructure against the upper label and/or position the label-side end ofthe laser containment structure to be within the label support fitting.In some implementations, a flexible seal element (e.g., the flexibleseal element 120 of FIG. 1) on the laser containment structure maycompress with contact to facilitate the formation of a seal and/or asealed enclosure between the laser containment structure and the upperlabel and/or between the laser containment structure and the labelsupport.

According to some implementations, based on determining that the labelmodification unit and upper label are in position for label modification(e.g., using the door sensor and/or an enclosure sensor, such as theenclosure sensor 110 of FIG. 1), the controller may open a door, toverify that a sealed enclosure that includes the upper label and/or thelaser printhead is formed and/or permit the label modification unit tomodify the upper label.

As shown in FIG. 3C, and by reference number 340, the label modificationsystem verifies that a sealed enclosure is formed. For example, toverify that a sealed enclosure has been formed, the label modificationsystem may obtain seal information from an enclosure sensor of the labelmodification unit (and/or other sensor of the label modification system,such as the door sensor 116 of FIG. 1 or another sensor used to controlthe placement device). Based on the seal information, the labelmodification system may determine a coupling status associated with thelaser containment structure and the rewriteable label, which mayindicate whether the laser containment structure and rewriteable label(or label support) are coupled (and/or latched) to form the sealedenclosure.

As described herein, when the upper label and label modification unitare positioned to form a sealed enclosure (e.g., when the lasercontainment structure is coupled to the upper label, coupled to thelabel support fitting, and/or the like), the laser containment structureforms a seal with the upper label and/or label support that encloses theupper label (or at least a portion of the upper label that is to bemodified) within the sealed enclosure (e.g., with a laser of the laserprinthead assembly when a door of the laser printhead assembly isopened). As described herein, the sensor may include any suitable sensorthat is capable of detecting whether a sealed enclosure that includesthe upper label has been formed. More specifically, the enclosure sensormay include a camera that provides one or more images (e.g., as sealinformation) to the controller to permit the controller to determine(e.g., using an image processing technique) a seal status of a sealbetween the upper label and the laser containment structure. The sealstatus may indicate whether the one or more images depicts a seal or agap (e.g., an air gap that exists because a seal is not formed, anopening that is greater than a threshold distance or area, and/or thelike) between the upper label and the laser containment structure.Additionally, or alternatively, the enclosure sensor may include apressure sensor to detect whether a sealed enclosure has been formedand/or that provides seal information that indicates whether there is achange in pressure or a difference in pressure between an interioratmosphere and exterior atmosphere of the label modification unit). Insome implementations, the enclosure sensor may include a light sensorthat is configured to measure a level of ambient light and/or to provideseal information that indicates whether a gap is permitting ambientlight to travel between the laser containment structure and the upperlabel and/or label support. The controller, based on seal informationfrom the enclosure sensor may determine that the seal is formed based onwhether the seal information includes and/or identifies a value (e.g., adata value, a pressure value, a light value, and/or the like) thatsatisfies a particular threshold.

In this way, based on the verifying the sealed enclosure, the controllermay permit the label modification unit to modify the upper label.

As shown in FIG. 3C, and by reference number 350 a, the labelmodification system performs the label modification. For example, thecontroller may cause the laser printhead to modify the upper label withcontent that has been received from the label management platform (e.g.,within label information and/or instructions from the label managementplatform to update the upper label and/or the lower label) and/or inputto the label modification system (e.g., via a user). The labelmodification may be performed based on verifying the sealed enclosure isformed. For example, the controller may permit and/or cause the laserprinthead to perform a write or erase of the upper label only when thecontroller verifies that the upper label is within a sealed enclosurethat includes both the upper label and at least a portion of the laserprinthead.

As described herein, to perform the label modification, the laserprinthead causes the laser of the laser printhead assembly to emit alight beam and/or controls a reflector of the label modification systemto direct the light beam onto the upper label to perform the labelmodification. A label modification may include various actions to modifya rewriteable label, such as writing content on the rewriteable label,removing modifiable content from the rewriteable label, alteringmodifiable content on the rewriteable label, and/or the like (e.g.,based on causing the rewriteable label to photothermally react accordingto attributes of the light beam).

As shown in FIG. 3C, and by reference number 350 b, the labelmodification system sends a notification associated with themodification to the label management platform. For example, thecontroller may send, via a communication device, a verification messageto confirm that the upper label was successfully modified.

Accordingly, the label management platform may correspondingly updatelabel information associated with the upper label (e.g., in a datastructure for tracking label information associated with the rewriteablelabels of the environment). The label information may identify that theupper label is in a working condition, that the upper label has beenupdated with new content, the new content used to update the upperlabel, timing associated with performing the label modification, and/orthe like. In this way, the controller may permit the label managementplatform to keep up-to-date information associated with the rewriteablelabels to enable monitoring and/or detection maintenance requirements ofthe rewriteable labels, content on the rewriteable labels, and/or thelike.

As shown in FIG. 3D, and by reference number 360, the label modificationsystem determines that a sealed enclosure is not formed with the lowerlabel. For example, after modifying the upper label, the controller maycause the placement device to align (or attempt to align) the placementdevice with the lower label (in a similar manner as described above inconnection with the upper label). However, as previously mentioned, thelower label may have sustained some damage or may have been altered in amanner that the placement device is prevented (e.g., due to mechanicaland/or control constraints) from positioning the label modification unitto form a sealed enclosure that includes the rewriteable label (e.g., ifthe controller is not configured to dynamically adapt the labelmodification unit to a damaged, repositioned, or altered rewriteablelabel).

Accordingly, based on seal information received from the enclosuresensor indicating that a gap exists between the laser containmentstructure of the label modification unit and the lower and/or betweenthe laser containment structure and the label support, the controllermay determine that the sealed enclosure is not formed. Such sealinformation may include an image that depicts an air gap between thelaser containment structure and the lower label, a pressure measurementthat indicates that a seal has not been formed, and/or an ambient lightmeasurement that indicates that ambient light is reaching the lasercontainment structure and/or the housing of the laser printheadassembly. In this way, the controller may determine that a sealedenclosure has not been formed between the label modification unit andthe lower label.

As shown in FIG. 3D, and by reference number 370 a, the labelmodification system prevents label modification of the lower label. Forexample, because a sealed enclosure was not formed with the lower label,the controller may close the door of the laser printhead assembly toprevent a light beam from the laser (e.g., if inadvertently activated)from passing through the gap between the lower label and the lasercontainment structure and/or reaching an exterior of the labelmodification unit. Accordingly, any inadvertent emission of a light beamby the laser can be contained within the laser printhead assembly, toprevent damage to external components or objects within the environment(e.g., due to the light beam heating the objects).

As shown in FIG. 3D, and by reference number 370 b, the labelmodification system sends a notification to the label managementplatform to indicate an inability to modify the lower label. Forexample, the controller may send an alert and/or error message to thelabel management platform that indicates that the lower label is likelydamaged and/or that the lower label was not modified.

Accordingly, the label management platform may correspondingly updatelabel information for the label and/or indicate that the lower labelrequires maintenance (e.g., via a notification to a user deviceassociated with the label management platform). Because the lower labelof example implementation 300 may display incorrect information, thenotification from the label modification system can prevent furthererrors associated with incorrect labeling of the lower label (e.g.,incorrect identification of items associated with the labels, incorrectpricing of items associated with the lower label, and/or the like).Moreover, damaged labels may cause problems for other devices that areconfigured to interact with the damaged labels (e.g., other labelmodification systems). Therefore, the label modification system, viasuch notifications to the label management platform, can conserveresources associated with the other devices attempting to interact witha damaged label.

According to some implementations, the label modification system may beconfigured to dynamically adjust to repositioned or damaged rewriteablelabels (such as the lower label) using one or more sensors and/or theplacement device to align the label modification unit with therepositioned or damaged rewriteable labels. Additionally, oralternatively, the label modification system may include one or moredevices (e.g., the placement device or other type of mechanical device)that is configured to adjust, repair, replace, and/or reconfiguredrepositioned or damaged rewriteable labels.

In this way, the label modification system of example implementation 300can enable the label modification unit to modify a rewriteable label,can detect a status of a rewriteable label, and/or can provideinformation associated with a rewriteable label, as described herein.

As indicated above, FIGS. 3A-3D are provided merely as examples. Otherexamples may differ from what is described with regard to FIGS. 3A-3D.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example environment 400 in which systemsand/or methods, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in FIG.4, environment 400 may include a label management platform 410 (e.g.,the label management platform of example implementation 300) that ishosted by computing resources 415 of a cloud computing environment 420,a label modification system 430 (e.g., the label modification system ofexample implementation 300) with a controller 432 (e.g., correspondingto the controller of example implementation 300), and a network 440.Devices of the environment 400 may interconnect via wired connections,wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wirelessconnections.

The label management platform 410 includes one or more devices thatmanage information associated with labelling one or more rewriteablelabels of an environment, as described herein. In some implementations,the label management platform 410 may be designed to be modular suchthat certain software components may be swapped in or out depending on aparticular need. As such, the label management platform 410 may beeasily and/or quickly reconfigured for different uses. The labelmanagement platform 410 may receive information from and/or transmitinformation to label modification system 430 (and/or the controller432), as described herein.

In some implementations, as shown, the label management platform 410 maybe hosted in the cloud computing environment 420. Notably, whileimplementations described herein describe the label management platform410 as being hosted in the cloud computing environment 420, in someimplementations, the label management platform 410 may not becloud-based (i.e., may be implemented outside of a cloud computingenvironment) or may be partially cloud-based.

The cloud computing environment 420 includes an environment that hoststhe label management platform 410. The cloud computing environment 420may provide computation, software, data access, storage, etc., servicesthat do not require end-user knowledge of a physical location andconfiguration of system(s) and/or device(s) that hosts the labelmanagement platform 410. As shown, the cloud computing environment 420may include a group of the computing resources 415 (referred tocollectively as “computing resources 415” and individually as “computingresource 415”).

The computing resource 415 includes one or more personal computers,workstation computers, mainframe devices, or other types of computationand/or communication devices. In some implementations, the computingresource 415 may host the label management platform 410. The cloudresources may include compute instances executing in the computingresource 415, storage devices provided in the computing resource 415,data transfer devices provided by the computing resource 415, etc. Insome implementations, a computing resource 415 may communicate withother computing resources 415 via wired connections, wirelessconnections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

As further shown in FIG. 4, one or more of the computing resources 415may include a group of cloud resources, such as one or more applications(“APPs”) 415-1, one or more virtual machines (“VMs”) 415-2, virtualizedstorage (“VSs”) 415-3, one or more hypervisors (“HYPs”) 415-4, and/orthe like.

The application 415-1 includes one or more software applications thatmay be provided to or accessed by the label management platform 410. Theapplication 415-1 may eliminate a need to install and execute thesoftware applications on the label management platform 410. For example,application 415-1 may include software associated with the labelmanagement platform 410 and/or any other software capable of beingprovided via the cloud computing environment 420. In someimplementations, one application 415-1 may send/receive informationto/from one or more other applications 415-1 via virtual machine 415-2.

The virtual machine 415-2 includes a software implementation of amachine (e.g., a computer) that executes programs like a physicalmachine. The virtual machine 415-2 may be either a system virtualmachine or a process virtual machine, depending upon use and degree ofcorrespondence to any real machine by the virtual machine 415-2. Asystem virtual machine may provide a complete system platform thatsupports execution of a complete operating system (“OS”). A processvirtual machine may execute a single program and may support a singleprocess. In some implementations, the virtual machine 415-2 may executeon behalf of a user (e.g., an operator of the label management platform410), and may manage infrastructure of the cloud computing environment420, such as data management, synchronization, or long-duration datatransfers.

The virtualized storage 415-3 includes one or more storage systemsand/or one or more devices that use virtualization techniques within thestorage systems or devices of the computing resource 415. In someimplementations, within the context of a storage system, types ofvirtualizations may include block virtualization and filevirtualization. Block virtualization may refer to abstraction (orseparation) of logical storage from physical storage so that the storagesystem may be accessed without regard to physical storage orheterogeneous structure. The separation may permit administrators of thestorage system flexibility in how the administrators manage storage forend users. File virtualization may eliminate dependencies between dataaccessed at a file level and a location where files are physicallystored. This may enable optimization of storage use, serverconsolidation, and/or performance of non-disruptive file migrations.

The hypervisor 415-4 may provide hardware virtualization techniques thatallow multiple operating systems (e.g., “guest operating systems”) toexecute concurrently on a host computer, such as computing resource 415.The hypervisor 415-4 may present a virtual operating platform to theguest operating systems and may manage the execution of the guestoperating systems. Multiple instances of a variety of operating systemsmay share virtualized hardware resources.

The label modification system 430 includes a system for modifying arewriteable label. The label modification system 430 may include a labelmodification unit (e.g., the label modification unit 100 of FIG. 1), alaser containment structure array (e.g., the laser containment structurearray 210 of FIG. 2), the controller 432, and/or the like to permit thelabel modification system 430 to navigate to and/or modify (e.g.,autonomously or semi-autonomously) one or more rewriteable labels. Thecontroller 432 may include one or more devices (e.g., one or moreprocessors, one or more memories, and/or the like) that are capable ofcontrolling one or more components of the label modification system 430,as described herein. Accordingly, the label modification system 430 mayinclude and/or control a laser printhead (e.g., the laser printhead 104)to adjust attributes of a light beam that is emitted and/or directed bythe laser printhead to write and/or erase a rewriteable label, asdescribed herein.

The network 440 includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. Forexample, the network 440 may include a cellular network (e.g., a fifthgeneration (5G) network, a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a thirdgeneration (3G) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network,etc.), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN),a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), atelephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)),a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiberoptic-based network, and/or the like, and/or a combination of these orother types of networks.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 4 areprovided as one or more examples. In practice, there may be additionaldevices and/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, differentdevices and/or networks, or differently arranged devices and/or networksthan those shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, two or more devices shown inFIG. 4 may be implemented within a single device, or a single deviceshown in FIG. 4 may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices.Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or moredevices) of environment 400 may perform one or more functions describedas being performed by another set of devices of environment 400.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of example components of a device 500. Device 500may correspond to the label management platform 410, the labelmodification system 430, the controller 432, and/or the like. In someimplementations, the label management platform 410, label modificationsystem 430, and/or the controller 432 may include one or more devices500 and/or one or more components of device 500. As shown in FIG. 5,device 500 may include a bus 510, a processor 520, a memory 530, astorage component 540, an input component 550, an output component 560,and a communication interface 570.

Bus 510 includes a component that permits communication among multiplecomponents of device 500. Processor 520 is implemented in hardware,firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. Processor 520is a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), anaccelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller,a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or anothertype of processing component. In some implementations, processor 520includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform afunction. Memory 530 includes a random access memory (RAM), a read onlymemory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device(e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) thatstores information and/or instructions for use by processor 520.

Storage component 540 stores information and/or software related to theoperation and use of device 500. For example, storage component 540 mayinclude a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and/or amagneto-optic disk), a solid state drive (SSD), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium,along with a corresponding drive.

Input component 550 includes a component that permits device 500 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, and/or amicrophone). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 550 mayinclude a component for determining location (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component) and/or a sensor (e.g., an accelerometer, agyroscope, an actuator, another type of positional or environmentalsensor, and/or the like) to navigate and/or control the labelmodification system 430. For example, input component 550 may includeand/or be associated with the enclosure sensor 110 and/or the doorsensor 116 of FIG. 1. Output component 560 includes a component thatprovides output information from device 500 (via, e.g., a display, aspeaker, a haptic feedback component, an audio or visual indicator,and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, output component 560may include and/or be associated with components of the laser printhead104 and/or one or more control devices (e.g., electromechanical devices)configured to control components of the label modification unit and/orcomponents of the placement device of example implementation 300.

Communication interface 570 includes a transceiver-like component (e.g.,a transceiver, a separate receiver, a separate transmitter, and/or thelike) that enables device 500 to communicate with other devices, such asvia a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wiredand wireless connections. Communication interface 570 may permit device500 to receive information from another device and/or provideinformation to another device. For example, communication interface 570may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxialinterface, an infrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, auniversal serial bus (USB) interface, a wireless local area networkinterface, a cellular network interface, and/or the like.

Device 500 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device500 may perform these processes based on processor 520 executingsoftware instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as memory 530 and/or storage component 540. As used herein,the term “computer-readable medium” refers to a non-transitory memorydevice. A memory device includes memory space within a single physicalstorage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storagedevices.

Software instructions may be read into memory 530 and/or storagecomponent 540 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 570. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 530 and/or storage component 540 may causeprocessor 520 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardware circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, implementations described herein arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry andsoftware.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 5 are provided asan example. In practice, device 500 may include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 5. Additionally, or alternatively, aset of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 500 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 500.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example process 600 for configuring a sealedenclosure for a laser printhead. In some implementations, one or moreprocess blocks of FIG. 6 may be performed by a label modification system(e.g., the label modification system 430). In some implementations, oneor more process blocks of FIG. 6 may be performed by another device or agroup of devices separate from or including the label modificationsystem, such as a label management platform (e.g., the label managementplatform 410) and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, process 600 may include determining a physicalconfiguration of a rewriteable label, wherein content is to be modifiedon the rewriteable label using a laser printhead (block 610). Forexample, the label modification system (e.g., using processor 520,memory 530, storage component 540, input component 550, output component560, communication interface 570, and/or the like) may determine aphysical configuration of a rewriteable label, as described above. Insome implementations, content is modifiable and/or is to be modified onthe rewriteable label using a laser printhead and the rewriteable labelis supported by a label support.

The label modification system, when determining the physicalconfiguration of the rewriteable label, may obtain location informationthat identifies a location of the rewriteable label and identify, basedon the location and a label location mapping, the physicalconfiguration, the label location mapping including an entry for therewriteable label that associates the location and the physicalconfiguration. Additionally, or alternatively, the label modificationsystem, when determining the physical configuration of the rewriteablelabel, may identify an identifier of the rewriteable label based on ananalysis of an image of the rewriteable label that is captured by acamera of a placement device and determine the physical configurationbased on the identifier. The identifier may be depicted in the image.Additionally, or alternatively, the identifier may be identified basedon a location of the rewriteable label and/or a location of a placementdevice. In some implementations, the label modification system mayanalyze, via an image processing technique, the image to determine thephysical configuration of the rewriteable label based on one or moredimensions of the rewriteable label.

As further shown in FIG. 6, process 600 may include selecting a lasercontainment structure that is associated with the physicalconfiguration, wherein the laser containment structure is one of aplurality of laser containment structures that are accessible to aplacement device (block 620). For example, the label modification system(e.g., using processor 520, memory 530, storage component 540, inputcomponent 550, output component 560, communication interface 570, and/orthe like) may select a laser containment structure that is associatedwith the physical configuration, as described above.

The laser containment structure may include a first opening that isconfigured to fit a printhead structure of the laser printhead and asecond opening that is configured to fit a rewriteable label supportfitting. In some implementations, selecting the laser containmentstructure may include determining, based on the physical configuration,that a label-side opening of the laser containment structure matches thelabel support fitting of the rewriteable label, and causing theplacement device to select the laser containment structure forpositioning in association with the rewriteable label.

In some implementations, the label modification system, when selectingthe laser containment structure, may analyze a plurality of label-sideopenings of the plurality of laser containment structures, determinethat a label-side opening of the plurality of label-side openings, thatis associated with the laser containment structure, matches the physicalconfiguration of the rewriteable label, and select the laser containmentstructure based on the label-side opening matching the physicalconfiguration.

As further shown in FIG. 6, process 600 may include causing theplacement device to position the laser containment structure inassociation with the rewriteable label to form a sealed enclosure thatincludes the laser printhead (block 630). For example, the labelmodification system (e.g., using processor 520, memory 530, storagecomponent 540, input component 550, output component 560, communicationinterface 570, and/or the like) may cause the placement device toposition the laser containment structure in association with therewriteable label to form a sealed enclosure that includes the laserprinthead, as described above.

In some implementations, the label modification system, when positioningthe laser containment structure, may obtain position informationassociated with the label support fitting and the laser containmentstructure and control the placement device to position the lasercontainment structure according to the positioning information.

In some implementations, the label modification system may obtain, froma sensor associated with the sealed enclosure, seal informationassociated with coupling the laser containment structure and a labelsupport fitting of the label support. The label modification system,when obtaining the seal information, may analyze an image captured by acamera; determine, from the image, a seal status of a seal between thelabel support fitting and the laser containment structure; and generate,based on the seal status, the seal information. In such a case, the sealinformation may be generated based on the seal status indicating that agap between the label support fitting and the laser containmentstructure is depicted in the image or the seal status indicating a sealbetween the label support fitting and the laser containment structure isdepicted in the image.

In some implementations, causing the placement device to position thelaser containment structure may include causing the placement device,using a sensor of the placement device, to align the label supportfitting with a label-side opening of the laser containment structure andcoupling the label-side opening to the label support fitting of therewriteable label to form the sealed enclosure.

In some implementations, process 600 may include causing a placementdevice, using a sensor of the placement device, to align the rewriteablelabel with a label-side opening of the laser containment structure; andcausing the placement device to couple the label-side opening fitting toa label support fitting of the rewriteable label to form the sealedenclosure. In some implementations, process 600 may include verifying aseal is formed, wherein the action is performed based on verifying thatthe sealed enclosure is formed. Process 600 may include analyzing animage captured by a camera, determining that the image does not depict agap between the rewriteable label and the laser containment structure,and confirming, based on determining that the image does not depict agap between the rewriteable label and the laser containment structure,that the sealed enclosure is formed.

As further shown in FIG. 6, process 600 may include performing, based ona seal status associated with the laser containment structure and therewriteable label, an action associated with the rewriteable label(block 640). For example, the label modification system (e.g., usingprocessor 520, memory 530, storage component 540, input component 550,output component 560, communication interface 570, and/or the like) mayperform the action associated with the rewriteable label, as describedabove. The seal status may indicate that a gap or a seal between thelaser containment structure and the rewriteable label.

The label modification system, when performing the action, may enable,based on the seal enclosure being formed, the laser printhead to modifycontent on the rewriteable label, or prevent, based on the sealedenclosure not being formed, the laser printhead from modifying contenton the rewriteable label. Additionally, or alternatively, the labelmodification system may cause the laser printhead to modify content onthe rewriteable label or send, to a label management platform, anotification associated with modifying the rewriteable label. In someimplementations, performing the action includes causing a laserprinthead assembly to place a laser printhead door into an openposition, causing the laser printhead to modify the rewriteable label,and causing, after the laser printhead modifies content of therewriteable label, the laser printhead assembly to place the laserprinthead door into a laser-disabled position.

Process 600 may include additional implementations, such as any singleimplementation or any combination of implementations described aboveand/or in connection with one or more other processes describedelsewhere herein.

Although FIG. 6 shows example blocks of process 600, in someimplementations, process 600 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 6. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 600 may be performed in parallel.

As used herein, each of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,”“non-transitory machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storagedevice” is expressly defined as a storage medium (e.g., a platter of ahard disk drive, a digital versatile disc, a compact disc, flash memory,read-only memory, random-access memory, etc.) on which machine-readableinstructions (e.g., program code in the form of, for example, softwareand/or firmware) are stored for any suitable duration of time (e.g.,permanently, for an extended period of time (e.g., while a programassociated with the machine-readable instructions is executing), and/ora short period of time (e.g., while the machine-readable instructionsare cached and/or during a buffering process)). Further, as used herein,each of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,” “non-transitorymachine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage device” isexpressly defined to exclude propagating signals. That is, as used inany claim of this patent, none of the terms “tangible machine-readablemedium,” “non-transitory machine-readable medium,” and “machine-readablestorage device” can be read to be implemented by a propagating signal.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present disclosure. Additionally, thedescribed embodiments/examples/implementations should not be interpretedas mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentiallycombinable if such combinations are permissive in any way. In otherwords, any feature disclosed in any of the aforementionedembodiments/examples/implementations may be included in any of the otheraforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations.

Some implementations are described herein in connection with thresholds.As used herein, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context,refer to a value being greater than the threshold, more than thethreshold, higher than the threshold, greater than or equal to thethreshold, less than the threshold, fewer than the threshold, lower thanthe threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to thethreshold, or the like.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The claimed invention isdefined solely by the appended claims including any amendments madeduring the pendency of this application and all equivalents of thoseclaims as issued.

Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less thanall features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the followingclaims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with eachclaim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: determining, by acontroller, a physical configuration of a rewriteable label, whereincontent can be modified on the rewriteable label using a laserprinthead, and wherein the rewriteable label is supported by a labelsupport; selecting, by the controller, a laser containment structurethat is associated with the physical configuration, wherein the lasercontainment structure is one of a plurality of laser containmentstructures that are accessible to a placement device; causing, by thecontroller, the placement device to position the laser containmentstructure to form a sealed enclosure that includes the rewriteable labeland the laser printhead; obtaining, by the controller and from a sensorassociated with the sealed enclosure, seal information associated withcoupling the laser containment structure and a label support fitting ofthe label support; determining, by the controller and based on the sealinformation, a coupling status associated with the laser containmentstructure and the label support fitting; and performing, by thecontroller and based on the coupling status, an action associated withthe rewriteable label.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining thephysical configuration of the rewriteable label comprises: obtaininglocation information that identifies a location of the rewriteablelabel; and identifying, based on the location and a label locationmapping, the physical configuration, wherein the label location mappingincludes an entry for the rewriteable label that associates the locationand the physical configuration.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinselecting the laser containment structure comprises: determining, basedon the physical configuration, that a label-side opening of the lasercontainment structure matches the label support fitting of therewriteable label; and causing the placement device to select the lasercontainment structure for positioning in association with therewriteable label.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lasercontainment structure includes: a first opening that is configured tofit a printhead structure of the laser printhead, and a second openingthat is configured to fit the label support fitting.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein positioning the laser containment structure comprises:obtaining position information associated with the label support fittingand the laser containment structure; and controlling the placementdevice to position the laser containment structure according to thepositioning information.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensorcomprises a camera within the sealed enclosure and obtaining the sealinformation comprises: analyzing an image captured by the camera;determining, from the image, a seal status of a seal between the labelsupport fitting and the laser containment structure; and generating,based on the seal status, the seal information, wherein the sealinformation is generated is based on at least one of: the seal statusindicating that a gap between the label support fitting and the lasercontainment structure is depicted in the image, and the seal statusindicating a seal between the label support fitting and the lasercontainment structure is depicted in the image.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein performing the action, based on determining that the lasercontainment structure and the label support fitting are coupled,comprises at least one of: enabling the laser printhead to modifycontent on the rewriteable label, causing the laser printhead to modifythe content on the rewriteable label, and sending, to a label managementplatform, a notification associated with modifying the rewriteablelabel.
 8. A label modification system, comprising: a placement device; alaser printhead assembly that includes a laser printhead; and acontroller configured to: determine a physical configuration of arewriteable label, wherein content is modifiable on the rewriteablelabel using the laser printhead; select a laser containment structurethat is associated with the physical configuration, wherein the lasercontainment structure is one of a plurality of laser containmentstructures that are accessible to a placement device; cause theplacement device to position the laser containment structure inassociation with a label support fitting of the rewriteable label;verify that a sealed enclosure, that includes the rewriteable label andthe laser printhead, is formed by the containment structure and thelabel support fitting; and perform an action associated with the laserprinthead modifying content on the rewriteable label.
 9. The labelmodification system of claim 8, wherein the controller, when determiningthe physical configuration of the rewriteable label, is configured to:identify an identifier of the rewriteable label based on an analysis ofan image of the rewriteable label that is captured by a camera of theplacement device, wherein the identifier is depicted in the image; anddetermine the physical configuration based on the identifier.
 10. Thelabel modification system of claim 8, wherein the placement deviceincludes a camera, and the controller, when determining the physicalconfiguration of the rewriteable label, is configured to: capture, viathe camera, an image of the rewriteable label; and analyze, via an imageprocessing technique, the image to determine the physical configurationof the rewriteable label based on one or more dimensions of therewriteable label.
 11. The label modification system of claim 8, whereinthe controller, when selecting the laser containment structure, isconfigured to: analyze a plurality of label-side openings of theplurality of laser containment structures; determine that a label-sideopening of the plurality of label-side openings, that is associated withthe laser containment structure, matches the physical configuration ofthe rewriteable label; and select the laser containment structure basedon the label-side opening matching the physical configuration.
 12. Thelabel modification system of claim 8, wherein the controller, whencausing the placement device to position the laser containmentstructure, is configured to: cause the placement device, using a sensorof the placement device, to align the label support fitting with alabel-side opening of the laser containment structure; and couple thelabel-side opening to the label support fitting of the rewriteable labelto form the sealed enclosure.
 13. The label modification system of claim8, wherein the laser printhead assembly includes a laser printhead door,and the controller, when performing the action, is configured to: causethe laser printhead assembly to place the laser printhead door into anopen position, cause the laser printhead to modify the rewriteablelabel, and cause, after the laser printhead modifies content of therewriteable label, the laser printhead assembly to place the laserprinthead door into a laser-disabled position.
 14. The labelmodification system of claim 8, wherein the controller, when performingthe action, is configured to: enable the laser printhead assembly tomodify content on the rewriteable label, and send, to a label managementplatform, a notification that the laser printhead assembly was enabledto modify the content on the rewriteable label.
 15. A device comprising:a memory; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory,configured to: determine a physical configuration of a rewriteablelabel, wherein content modifiable on the rewriteable label using a laserprinthead; select a laser containment structure that is associated withthe physical configuration, wherein the laser containment structure isone of a plurality of laser containment structures that are accessibleto a placement device; cause the placement device to position the lasercontainment structure in association with the rewriteable label to forma sealed enclosure that includes the laser printhead; and perform, basedon a seal status associated with the laser containment structure and therewriteable label, an action associated with the rewriteable label. 16.The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to: identifyan identifier of the rewriteable label based on at least one of: alocation of the rewriteable label, a location of the placement device,and an analysis of an image of the rewriteable label that is captured bya camera of the placement device; and determine the physicalconfiguration based on the identifier.
 17. The device of claim 15,wherein the processor is configured to: cause the placement device,using a sensor of the placement device, to align the rewriteable labelwith a label-side opening of the laser containment structure; and causethe placement device to couple the label-side opening fitting to a labelsupport fitting of the rewriteable label to form the sealed enclosure.18. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to:verify, using a sensor, that the sealed enclosure is formed, wherein theaction is performed based on verifying that the sealed enclosure isformed.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the sensor is a camera andthe processor, is configured to determine the seal status by: analyzingan image captured by the camera; determining that the image depicts aseal between the rewriteable label and the laser containment structure;and verifying, based on determining that the image depicts a sealbetween the rewriteable label and the laser containment structure, thatthe sealed enclosure is formed.
 20. The device of claim 15, wherein theprocessor, when performing the action, is configured to: enable, basedon the sealed enclosure being formed, the laser printhead to modifycontent on the rewriteable label, and prevent, based on the sealedenclosure not being formed, the laser printhead from modifying thecontent on the rewriteable label.